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Community News: June 13

Published: Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 1:29 p.m.

Donors give support to annual Champions for Children Circle dinner

On May 6, donors gathered for the Children & Family Resource Center's annual Champions for Children Circle dinner at Champion Hills Country Club. The members of the Champions for Children Circle are donors who pledge a donation of at least $1,000 a year for a period of five years to provide annual support to the Children & Family Resource Center.

This support allows the center to continue its work of improving the lives of children in Henderson County. The circle of givers was inspired by the generosity and leadership of Tom and Sue Fazio. At the event, the Children & Family Resource Center celebrated it's giving circle members and recognized the new and renewing members: John Caldemeyer and Jan Huffman-Caldemeyer, David Feldmeth and Dollie Smith-Feldmeth , Ralph and Camille Grant, Steve and Truly Gwaltney, Steve and Jan Jarrell, David and Kathleen Lambert , Dr. Arthur and Rebecca Lebowitz, Anonymous , Eleanora Meloun, George and Cathy Shields, Virgil and Margaret Wagner, and Jim and Charlotte Walsh.

Today, the circle's membership is 134 members strong and since 2007, these donors have come together to give nearly $350,000. These gifts have given thousands of children better learning and growing environments and prepared young children for school, built developing literacy skills, identified and addressed developmental delays, strengthened families, created nurturing homes, improved the quality of local child care programs, kept teens moms in school, and provided hope and built confidence. For more information on becoming a Champion for Children contact Sarah Leatham at 828-698-0674.

Sain named to dean's list at Western Carolina

Ethan Hunter Sain of Zirconia was recently named to the Western Carolina University dean's list for fall semester 2012 with a GPA of 3.7. Sain is pursuing a degree in interior design.

St. Gerard House has been awarded $10,000 grant

The St. Gerard House has been awarded a grant of $10,000 by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, said Caroline Long, executive director at St. Gerard House.

According to Long, the grant will allow expansion of the Connect Social Skills Program, which teaches youth ages 5-19 the necessary social tools to apply in everyday life.

St. Gerard House and Grotto School have helped more than 300 families facing autism — through the preschool program, social skills classes for school-aged children, parent support groups, community trainings, and other various programs. The Rudnick Endowment Fund grant will give additional resources to provide the expertise, training, services and therapies needed to understand and treat an extremely complex, isolating disorder that is growing at an alarming rate each year.

St. Gerard House was founded in March 2010 and serves as a resource center for those involved with the treatment and care of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its Grotto School currently provides one-on-one therapy for children 2-and-a-half to 7 years old who have been diagnosed with autism.

Long, mother of two children with ASD, is founder and executive director, and Kelly Burgin, Ph.D., serves as president of St. Gerard House's Board of Directors.

Meyer appointed to the NCW Board of Directors

Madelyn Meyer, of Brevard, was appointed to the North Carolina Western Board of Directors. Meyer is a retiree from Carolinas Medical Center. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee of Transylvania.

Tavernier to debut as youngest concert pianist in North Carolina

Christopher Tavernier, sixth-grader at Hendersonville Middle School, will make his debut as the youngest concert pianist in North Carolina. Tavernier is performing Peter Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23 as a guest performing artist and will be opening the Tar River's Philharmonic Orchestra's Fall Season on Oct. 24 at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount.

The competition was held this past weekend in Rock Mount for pianists through pre-college. Christopher was the youngest contestant and played the single most popular piano concerto ever written, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23.

<p>Donors give support to annual Champions for Children Circle dinner </p><p>On May 6, donors gathered for the Children & Family Resource Center's annual Champions for Children Circle dinner at Champion Hills Country Club. The members of the Champions for Children Circle are donors who pledge a donation of at least $1,000 a year for a period of five years to provide annual support to the Children & Family Resource Center. </p><p>This support allows the center to continue its work of improving the lives of children in Henderson County. The circle of givers was inspired by the generosity and leadership of Tom and Sue Fazio. At the event, the Children & Family Resource Center celebrated it's giving circle members and recognized the new and renewing members: John Caldemeyer and Jan Huffman-Caldemeyer, David Feldmeth and Dollie Smith-Feldmeth , Ralph and Camille Grant, Steve and Truly Gwaltney, Steve and Jan Jarrell, David and Kathleen Lambert , Dr. Arthur and Rebecca Lebowitz, Anonymous , Eleanora Meloun, George and Cathy Shields, Virgil and Margaret Wagner, and Jim and Charlotte Walsh. </p><p>Today, the circle's membership is 134 members strong and since 2007, these donors have come together to give nearly $350,000. These gifts have given thousands of children better learning and growing environments and prepared young children for school, built developing literacy skills, identified and addressed developmental delays, strengthened families, created nurturing homes, improved the quality of local child care programs, kept teens moms in school, and provided hope and built confidence. For more information on becoming a Champion for Children contact Sarah Leatham at 828-698-0674. </p><p>Sain named to dean's list at Western Carolina</p><p>Ethan Hunter Sain of Zirconia was recently named to the Western Carolina University dean's list for fall semester 2012 with a GPA of 3.7. Sain is pursuing a degree in interior design. </p><p>St. Gerard House has been awarded $10,000 grant</p><p>The St. Gerard House has been awarded a grant of $10,000 by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County, said Caroline Long, executive director at St. Gerard House. </p><p>According to Long, the grant will allow expansion of the Connect Social Skills Program, which teaches youth ages 5-19 the necessary social tools to apply in everyday life. </p><p>St. Gerard House and Grotto School have helped more than 300 families facing autism — through the preschool program, social skills classes for school-aged children, parent support groups, community trainings, and other various programs. The Rudnick Endowment Fund grant will give additional resources to provide the expertise, training, services and therapies needed to understand and treat an extremely complex, isolating disorder that is growing at an alarming rate each year.</p><p>St. Gerard House was founded in March 2010 and serves as a resource center for those involved with the treatment and care of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Its Grotto School currently provides one-on-one therapy for children 2-and-a-half to 7 years old who have been diagnosed with autism. </p><p>Long, mother of two children with ASD, is founder and executive director, and Kelly Burgin, Ph.D., serves as president of St. Gerard House's Board of Directors. </p><p>Meyer appointed to the NCW Board of Directors</p><p>Madelyn Meyer, of Brevard, was appointed to the North Carolina Western Board of Directors. Meyer is a retiree from Carolinas Medical Center. She currently serves on the Community Advisory Committee of Transylvania.</p><p>Tavernier to debut as youngest concert pianist in North Carolina</p><p>Christopher Tavernier, sixth-grader at Hendersonville Middle School, will make his debut as the youngest concert pianist in North Carolina. Tavernier is performing Peter Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23 as a guest performing artist and will be opening the Tar River's Philharmonic Orchestra's Fall Season on Oct. 24 at the Dunn Center for the Performing Arts at Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount.</p><p>The competition was held this past weekend in Rock Mount for pianists through pre-college. Christopher was the youngest contestant and played the single most popular piano concerto ever written, Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No.1 in B Flat Minor, Op. 23.</p>